www.phs.org/Medicare 9 Hospice is a special type of medical care. It is meant for someone who is very ill and nearing the end of their life. They often have less than six months to live. In hospice care, a team of providers, nurses, social workers, and others works to: • Keep the person comfortable • Control symptoms, like pain and nausea • Offer emotional and spiritual support The hospice team values input from family members. They keep the family involved in the person’s care. Hospice is a choice. It doesn’t mean the person is giving up. A person can decide to enter hospice if their illness can’t be cured or if they want to stop treatment. Hospice care can manage the side effects of the illness. It also will treat the person’s other health problems. It focuses on quality of life. A person can receive hospice care in: • A hospital • An assisted-living facility • A hospice facility • A nursing home • Their own home Palliative care This care is similar to hospice, but in this case, the ill person isn’t at the end of their life yet. They can still get treatment for the illness. They also will be treated for pain and other side effects. Palliative care can start at any point in a person’s illness. A person who is thinking about end-oflife care should talk with their provider about their options. Sources: AARP; American Cancer Society; National Institute on Aging What to know about hospice care If you would like to learn more about Presbyterian’s hospice services, visit www.phs.org/doctors-services/ healthcare-at-home/hospice.
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